Pretoria: Government, working with the private sector, is making tangible progress in the fight against Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD). This is according to Agriculture Minister Willie Aucamp, who addressed the TLU SA Congress held in Pretoria. Over the past week, the North West province recorded no new cases of FMD for the first time since December 2025.
According to South African Government News Agency, government and the private sector have collaborated to import over 23 million vaccine doses, marking steady progress with the vaccination of cattle across all provinces. Every commercial dairy cow in South Africa, totaling over 1.38 million animals, has received their initial vaccine dose. The distribution of second-round booster doses is proceeding swiftly. To prevent government from becoming a bottleneck in animal healthcare, a legal pathway has been established for farmers to vaccinate their own herds.
To date, more than 1000 farmers have registered on the department's online systems to be classified as authorized persons to vaccinate their own cattle. Farmers have the option to utilize approved online systems provided by private sector stakeholders, such as platforms by RMIS [Red Meat Industry Services], SAAI [Southern African Agri Initiative], and Buffalo Analytics. The Minister urged farmers with the means to proactively vaccinate their cattle to do so.
The registration process involves applying on the FMD Reporting system to be approved as an 'Authorized Person' to administer the FMD vaccine. Upon approval, a notice must be given five days in advance of the intention to vaccinate, although this notice period is subject to change. Notice should be given to the Provincial Director: Veterinary Services or the State Veterinarian in the area, after which the FMD vaccine can be procured directly from the local veterinarian. Additionally, within 14 days of administering the vaccine, the local State Veterinarian must be provided with a feedback report detailing the vaccinated animals, the vaccine used, and the location of the farm.
Minister Aucamp emphasized that managing biosecurity on individual farms strengthens national defense against animal diseases. He highlighted the potential of partnering with the government, stating that it can cut through red tape, streamline regulations, and open lucrative new export markets. Joint action, as demonstrated in the fight against FMD, enables faster securing of necessary vaccines and protection of vital supply chains. Aligning state policy with the practical needs of organized agriculture creates stability, allowing the government to provide an enabling framework while farmers focus on productive farming and ensuring food security in the country.